Tag Archive: Boston Terrier


Some people mistakenly believe all dogs have a “swimming gene” and are born with the natural ability to swim.

Filed under: Holistic Health, Pet Health — 4 Comments
September 1, 2012

Health And Wellness Report

 

 

Holistic Health :  Pet Health

 

 

 

Is Every Dog a Natural Swimmer?

 

By Dr. Becker

Some people mistakenly believe all dogs have a “swimming gene” and are born with the natural ability to swim.

But the reality is that while most dogs instinctively make a paddling motion if they happen to wind up in water, it’s often the extent of their ability to swim. Not every dog paddle is effective at keeping the animal afloat, and many dogs have no idea how to move toward shore or the side of the pool.

In my experience, dogs generally fall into one of three categories when it comes to swimming. There are dogs that naturally take to the water, those who just aren’t built for the water and should stay safely ashore (unless in a hydrotherapy tank with a therapist hovering nearby), and dogs who can be taught to swim.

There are always exceptions to every rule, of course. There are dogs bred for water work who are terrified of the wet stuff. And there are those that by design shouldn’t be able to swim, but manage to anyway.

Breeds Known to Be Good Swimmers

Medium-to-large sized breeds with water-resistant coats and webbing between their toes are typically strong swimmers. These dogs have been bred for water work and include most retrievers, including the lab, the golden, and the Chesapeake Bay retriever.

Dogs with “water” in their breed names are a given. These include the Portuguese Water Dog, the Spanish Water Dog, the Irish Water Spaniel, and the American Water Spaniel.

Newfoundlands, despite their giant size, are also great swimmers. Other breeds comfortable in the water include English and Irish setters, the standard poodle, and the Schipperke.

Breeds Not Built for the Water

Dogs that aren’t designed for swimming include “top heavy” breeds – those with large chests and small hindquarters. Short muzzled dogs, including the brachycephalic breeds, and dogs with very short legs also don’t do well in water.

For example, bulldogs, dachshunds and boxers are generally not able to stay afloat. Brachy breeds like the pug tend to tire easily due to the abnormal structure of their respiratory organs.

Many small dogs can be very good swimmers, but because they get chilled easily and tend to be frightened in the water, they don’t always do so well.

Getting Your Dog Used to the Water

Go slow in the beginning. Always use a PFD (personal flotation device, or life preserver). The goal is to discover whether your dog enjoys the water and whether he has the build and aptitude for swimming. Even if your pet is a recognized swimmer like a retriever, you should never simply drop a dog who has never been in water into the pool or the lake.

Some natural swimmers need no coaxing to go into the water, but other dogs bred for swimming need to get used to the water gradually. The first time you take your dog to the lake, if she’s hesitant at the shoreline, try wading in yourself and encourage her to follow you. If she does, give her plenty of praise.

Get her used to the feel of the water in a shallow spot, then gradually work her into deeper water. If she’s moving around well and seems comfortable, you can throw a floating toy or ball or even a stick out for her to fetch. If she swims out to the object and retrieves it, call her and encourage her to swim back to you. Praise her liberally when she reaches you.

If your dog is a natural in the water, it won’t be long before she’s diving in on her own every chance she gets.

An alternative to going into the water yourself is to try bringing your pet around a group of swimming dogs. Some dogs easily get the hang of being in water in the presence of other dogs swimming around them.

If your dog isn’t a breed recognized for being good in the water, you can try introducing him very gradually, but my recommendation is to stay right with him and start out with your pet in a flotation vest. If he seems comfortable and can move around well, he’ll probably enjoy swimming. If he’s mostly scared, shivering and looking like he’d rather be anywhere else, he may need more time to get used to the water – or he may never enjoy it.

My dog Rosco (a brachycephalic Boston Terrier), instantly loved swimming, despite the fact he couldn’t respire well during the activity. We had to condition his body to the sport of recreational swimming, allowing his muscles, heart and lungs to coordinate their abilities before we took his life preserver off.

If you have a breed that isn’t physically built for swimming, my recommendation is to keep him on dry land. The water is dangerous for dogs that can’t stay afloat or tire out before they can swim to safety. If you do bring your non-swimmer to the lake or the beach or even out to your backyard pool, I recommend putting a dog flotation vest on him as we did with Rosco, until we knew he was able to swim without risk.

Safety First

Even Michael Phelps tires out, so don’t be overconfident that your pet can handle anything in the water. Even the best canine swimmer can get very tired – especially in deep water. Older dogs and puppies tire more easily than adult dogs, and special care must be taken not to let them overdo it.

If you take your dog boating, no matter how great she is in the water, I recommend you use a dog flotation vest except for those times when the boat is anchored for swimming – and you’re keeping an eye on her. Dogs can fall into the water unnoticed, and if you’re at cruising speed, by the time you realize your pet isn’t onboard, it could be too late to save her. A flotation vest will help her stay on top of the water and will also help you spot her more easily.

If your dog is swimming in unfamiliar water, beware of strong currents, steep drop-offs, and any other potential dangers that could pull your pet under or sweep her away before you can get to her.

For Canine Landlubbers

Even if your dog isn’t built for the water or just doesn’t like it, he can still hang out at the lake or around the pool with you as long as you take some precautions.

Make sure he’s in a flotation vest just in case, has plenty of cool, clean water to drink, access to shade, and can walk around without burning the bottoms of his feet. If he starts to heat up, fill a container with water and gently pour it over him, starting at the back of the neck and working toward the tail. Then have him roll onto his back and drench his belly in cool water as well.

Whether your dog is on land or on the water, be alert for signs of heatstroke.

 

 

 

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Short muzzled breeds: While they may be appealing-looking, owners of brachy breeds need to be aware the cute appearance often comes at a serious price to the dog

Filed under: Health, Health And Wellness Report, Pet Health — Leave a comment
August 23, 2012

Health And Wellness Report

Pet Health

Is Your Short-Muzzled Dog Having Breathing Problems?

Brachycephalic Dog

By Dr. Becker

A recent study points to the possibility that owners of brachycephalic breeds (dogs with “pushed in” faces) mistake significant breathing difficulties in their pets for normal respiratory sounds.

The Royal Veterinary College at the University of London conducted a survey of the owners of 285 dogs who brought their pets to the Queen Mother Hospital for Animals for various reasons during a five-month period.

Thirty-one of the 285 dogs, including Boston terriers, bulldogs, Cavalier King Charles spaniels, French bulldogs, Pekingese and pugs, had been diagnosed with brachycephalic airway syndrome.

Brachycephalic airway syndrome describes a number of upper respiratory problems affecting the nose, mouth and throat of dogs (and some cats) as a result of abnormal skull structure.

What surprised the Royal Veterinary College researchers was the fact that despite the dogs’ owners reporting significant respiratory symptoms, they did not believe their pets had breathing problems.

Breathing Difficulties Assumed to Be Normal

Short-muzzled dogs, or “brachys,” have constricted upper jaws, which causes the soft tissue to be compressed within the skull. Many of these dogs develop brachycephalic airway syndrome. Signs of the condition include noisy or labored breathing, gagging, choking, problems breathing with even minor physical exertion, and a tendency to overheat.

Every owner of a brachy said their dog snored – some even while awake – compared with fewer than two percent of non-brachycephalic dogs. But well over half the owners did not believe their pet had breathing difficulties, even though the majority of dogs had problems during exercise.

According to researchers, this indicates many owners of pets with brachycephalic airway syndrome don’t realize a problem exists and don’t seek help from a veterinarian. According to Rowena Packer of the Royal Veterinary College and one of the study researchers:

“Our study clearly shows that owners of brachycephalic dogs often dismiss the signs of this potentially severe breathing disorder as normal and are prepared to tolerate a high degree of respiratory compromise in their pets before seeking help. It may require a particularly acute attack, such as the dog losing consciousness, for owners to perceive a problem.”

Many owners who were surveyed seemed to believe breathing difficulties aren’t really a problem if the dog is short-muzzled. One owner’s comment: “No to breathing problem – other than being a Bulldog.”

Dr. Charlotte Burn, lead researcher, warns that while short muzzles may be appealing-looking, owners of brachy breeds need to be aware the cute appearance often comes at a serious price to the dog. “Just because a problem is common, that doesn’t make it less of a problem for the individuals who suffer it,” says Burn.

Helping Your Brachy Breathe Better

Breathing difficulties can prevent your pet from being able to enjoy the very simplest things dogs naturally love to do, like eating, sleeping, play and exercise.

Dogs with severe brachycephalic airway syndrome can have almost continuous difficulty getting enough air. It’s not unusual for these dogs to collapse from lack of oxygen.

Left untreated, the problems tend to progress over time, with worsening symptoms.

The Royal Veterinary College researchers encourage parents of brachycephalic breeds to learn the difference between normal and abnormal breathing sounds in their dogs, and to make an appointment with a vet if they notice any unusual breathing or other signs of respiratory distress.

Unfortunately, surgery is often the only option to resolve significant breathing difficulties resulting from brachycephalic airway syndrome. The treatment goal is to surgically remove the tissues or structures causing airway obstruction.

Things you can do as the owner of a brachy include keeping your dog fit and trim. Overweight and obese dogs have much more serious respiratory difficulties than pets who are kept at an ideal weight.

Keeping your dog out of hot, humid environments is also important to support normal respiration and prevent overheating.

And since stress exacerbates virtually every health problem, especially breathing difficulties, keeping your dog’s life as stress-free as possible is also recommended to support your pet’s health and quality of life.

 

 

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Health And Wellness Report – Sunday April 8th, 2012

Filed under: Alternative Health, Chemicals, Diseases, Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO), Government, Government Overreach, Health, Holistic Health, Medical Research, Natural Health, Nutrition, Pet Health, Poisons in Our Foods, Positivity In Mind and Body — Leave a comment
April 8, 2012

Health

 

Stealth GMOs Rapidly Consuming Global Food Supply

 

Anthony Gucciardi

NaturalSociety

 

Obviously there is no room for GMOs in truly healthy food products, which is why it is truly vital that you understand the nature of GMOs and how they are oftentimes hidden in commercial food products. It may very well shock you to know just how prevalent GMOs are within the food supply. It’s truly amazing that modified products continue to go unlabeled despite being linked to organ damage — among a barrage of other conditions — in a prominent review of 19 studies.

In fact, nearly 93-95% of US soybeans are genetically modified in order to resist powerful weed-killers that were found to be killing the actual soybeans as well as the weeds. Following current trends, genetically modified food products will makeup the majority of the future food supply if a change is not made. For now, that change has been shot down by the FDA — the very organization tasked to defend public health. Just recently, the agency deleted around 1 million signatures from the GMO labeling campaign ‘Just Label It.’

This move means that consumers will continue to stay in the dark about whether or not what they’re eating is compromised of genetically modified ingredients. And it’s not just corn and soybeans, other commonly modified food staples include:

Corn
Cotton
Soy
Sweet corn
Hawaiian Papaya
Rice
Potatoes

 

Read Full Article Here

 

 

Tobacco Industry Forced to List Ingredients Used in Their Products

 

Mike Barrett
NaturalSociety

 

….There are over 4,000 individual compounds identified in tobacco and tobacco smoke, with at least 60 of them being known carcinogens. How would you feel after finding out that with every cigarette comes a dose of insecticide, car exhaust, gas chamber poison, ant poison, floor cleaner, mothballs, and nuclear weapon material? The fact is, there are hundreds of chemicals in tobacco products (and cigarettes especially) that people don’t even know about.

Insecticide – nicotine
Car exhaust – carbon monoxide
Gas chamber poison – hydrogen cyanide
Ant poison – ammonia
Mothballs – naphthalene
Nuclear power – radioactive compounds

 

Read Full Article Here

 

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Holistic Health

 

Natural help for the relief of hepatitis C

 

By Marsha Anderson,

 

(NaturalNews) There are approximately 180 million people worldwide that are infected with hepatitis C. Of those with access to conventional treatment approximately 20 to 50 percent do not respond to therapy. The likelihood of responding to treatment is largely determined by the genotype of the virus. Genotype 1 is the most common in the United States and it is also one of the most difficult to treat. The current standard of care for treatment of hepatitis C is interferon injections combined with…

 

Read Full Article Here

 

 

 

A common vegetable cures skin cancer

 

By Paul Fassa,

 

(NaturalNews) When it comes to skin cancer, Big Pharma offers only topical chemo creams and surgery. The chemo creams often don’t work but often do cause ugly, painful side effects. Removing skin cancer tumors surgically usually results with tumors resurfacing sooner or later. Surgeries often leave ugly scars. However, there are inexpensive, effective, safe cures for curing skin cancer that are banned by the mainstream medical monopoly, which are not publicized by the mainstream media. A relatively…

 

Read Full Article Here

 

 

 

Blueberry superpower

 

By Dr. David Jockers,

 

(NaturalNews) Foods that have an incredible array of health benefits that go well beyond just their nutrient value are considered Superfoods. These foods are typically loaded with a combination of critical fatty acids, anti-oxidant phytonutrients and essential amino acids. Blueberries contain an extraordinary amount of unique phytonutrients and impressive anti-oxidant scores that make them a superfood. Blueberries are a native plant to North America. They grow in shrubs that can be anywhere from…

 

Read Full Article Here

 

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Pet Health

 

Bad Breath (Chronic) in Dogs

Halitosis in Dogs

 

Halitosis is the medical term used to describe an offensive odor that comes from the mouth, producing bad breath. A number of causes may be responsible for this condition, notably periodontal disease, a disease resulting from bacteria in the mouth. Bacteria is also associated with plaque and cavities.

Small animal breeds and brachycephalic breeds (characterized by their short-nosed, flat-faced features; e.g., the Pug, Boston Terrier, Pekingese) are the most prone to periodontal and other mouth diseases, in large part because their teeth are close together.

Symptoms and Types

In most cases, there are no other symptoms aside from a bad odor emanating from the mouth. If the cause of the odor is a disease of the mouth, other symptoms may become apparent, including pawing at the mouth, inability to eat (anorexia), loose teeth, and excessive drooling, which may or may not have traces of blood.

 

Read Full Article Here

 

 

 

Bow Wow Chow: The Essential Dog Food Guide

 

Buy dog food or make it yourself, but make it healthy. Here are some important things to add (or not add) to your dog’s diet.

 

These days we often hear reports about dog foods that can harm our pets. In 2007, over one hundred dog food brands — some even well known brands — were recalled due to a tainted ingredient which was imported for China, making some dogs sick and killing others. More recently, salmonella has become a concern for various dog food items.

As responsible dog owners, we need to know how to read complicated dog food labels. Or better yet, feed our dogs with a healthy, well-balanced meal made at home.

So what is a healthy, well-balanced diet for your dog?

Whether you buy canned food from stores or prepare your dog’s meals at home, you have to ensure that the following ingredients are included in your dog’s diet: protein, carbohydrates, and fiber.

The most important ingredient is protein. In the past, dogs primarily survived on a diet of meat. This ensured that they consumed large quantities of protein, essential for energy. Fortunately, your dog is not as picky as you are when it comes to the cut of meat or the part of the body the cut comes from. In fact, it is the cuts of meat that we are least likely to eat that are best for dogs and therefore, they cost much less at your local butcher or grocery store. Ask for green tripe (the lining of a cow’s stomach), liver, heart, kidneys; all of these parts are high in concentrated nutrients and form an important piece of your dog’s lifetime development. Eggs and legumes are other sources of protein easily found at the store.

While it is not needed in as large of a quantity as protein, carbohydrate is another ingredient that is essential to a dog’s well-being. It is found in high concentrations in cereal grains such as rice, wheat, corn, barley and oats. Carbohydrates can be used in small amounts as fillers, or added in the form of green leafy vegetables like spinach, kale, celery, and broccoli, to name a few. Carrots are also beneficial. Along with being a great source of carbohydrates and fiber, they also contain vitamin A and Beta-carotene, which is good for eyesight. Fibers assist in moving waste through the digestive track, improving intestinal health. Easily digestible, or soluble, carbohydrates are excellent sources of fiber. This category is mainly comprised of fruits that are part of your diet, such as apples, pears, and oranges (but ask your vet which fruit are okay for your dog; some fruits are poisonous for dogs).

 

Read Full Article Here

 

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Positivity Mind and Body

 

Deepak Chopra – Way of the Wizard

 

Uploaded by 00niro00 on Apr 24, 2011

A wizard exists in all of us. This wizard sees and knows everything.

The wizard is beyond opposites of light and dark, good and evil, pleasure and pain.

Everything the wizard sees has its roots in the unseen world.

Nature reflects the mood of the wizard.

The body and the mind may sleep, but the wizard is always awake.

The wizard possesses the secret of immortality.

destruit productions

 

 

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Articles of Interest

 

We Are EMR Guinea Pigs

 

Uploaded by minivanjack

A global “Smart Grid” program is being implemented which is blasting homes and businesses with more electromagnetic radiation than human beings have ever been subject to in human history. It is utterly preposterous to assume this will not lead to major human epidemics.

We must now face the very serious problem that the institutions, government, corporations and foundations, that are supposed to be serving our interests are deliberately violating, exploiting, endangering and assaulting us.

This video exposes electromagnetic radiation (EMR) as a major danger and violation to all current and future generations.

Sponsored by FreedomTaker (d’o't’c'o’m)

 

 

 

The hidden (sick) agenda behind chemtrails

 

By Jonathan Landsman,

 

(NaturalNews) We, the people, are under attack by a small group of mad scientists, out-of-control government agencies and profit-seeking billionaires pretending to “save the earth” from global warming. These “global control-freaks” want to manipulate weather patterns – in order to dominate the Earth’s resources. In reality, military programs like HAARP and chemtrails which over-heat the atmosphere and poison the sky (and farmland) seriously threaten all life on this planet. (keep reading -with an…

 

Read Full Article Here

 

 

 

 

 

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